Seal look



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. W. EARL.

(ModeL) SEAL LOCK.

PatentedMay 22,1833.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(ModeL) H. W. EARL.

SEALLOGK Patented May 22,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEV HENRY WM. EARL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIBDS TO GEORGE SINTON AND S. P. RYLAND, Jlt, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

SEAL-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,227, dated May 22,1883, Application filed January 22, 1853. thlodel.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY WILLIAM EARL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimoreand State of Maryland, have invented an Improvement in Seal-Locks for Railway Freight-Cars, and for other purposes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is especially designed 'for the securing and sealing the doors of freight-cars.

It consists, essentially, of a plate with two lugs projecting from its face, one serving as the staple to receive the hasp or shackle of the car-door, the other perforated in line with the opening in the said staple-lug, so that a lockingbolt may be passed verticallythrough both. This bolt is provided with a horizontal slot in its head for the reception of a link of curved form, by which it is permanently attached to the staple-plate,while permitting its ready insertion in the lugs. The staple-lug may be made separately from the plate, and provided with ascrew-shank extending through the post andsecured by a nut, forming a permanent attachment which cannot be approached from the outside. In this case the plate may be fastened to the post by common woodscrews. If, on the other hand, the staple-lug be formed in one with the attaching-plate, the said plate is secured by bolts extending through the post and fastened by nuts on the inside, so as to preclude the possibility of removing the plate or fastening whilethe door is locked. The bolt is secured in its lugs by a spring-catcl1,which is retracted when thelock is to be unfastened by a simple key thrust into a slot or opening prepared for it in the back and base of the hasp-plate. Openings are provided in the second lug of the haspplate and in the bolt where it passes through the same, for the reception of the wire of. an ordinary lead seal. A transverse opening is also provided in communication with the keyhole or groove above referred to, through which the wire is passed, so that the key cannot be introduced until the seal-wire is broken and removed.

In order that theinvention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which---- 7 Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the parts separated. Fig. 2 is a front view with the device closed and locked. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3,Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the same plane, illustrating a modification in the construction of the haspplate and its lugs. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the key detached.

D represents the door of the freight-car, and

P the post, against which it shuts in custom- 6o ary manner. The lock-shackle is shown at 1 fastened to the door in the usual way.

2 represents my improved hasp-plate,whieh may be fastened to the post P by wood-screws 3, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or by bolts 4, 6

as in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the staple-lug5, which receives the hasp 1, is formed with ashank, 6,

and passed completely through the post P, and

receives a nut, 7, on the inside. On the face of the plate 2 is cast a second lug, S, perforated in line with the opening in the staplelug 5, so that after the shackle is passed over the latter a locking-bolt, 9, may be passed through the said openings in the lugs 5 and S to secure the shackle. The head of the bolt 9 is provided with a horizontal slot, 10, for the reception of a link", 11, by which it is permanently connected to the top of the plate 2.

The curved form of the link shown in Fig. 3, together with the slot in the head of the bolt, adapts the said bolt to be readily inserted and removed without disconnecting it from the plate. This is important, as it leaves no part of 8 5 gages in a notch or opening, 14., in the bolt, so

as to lock it in position. The pin 12 of the spring-catch is attached to a fiat spring, 13, fastened beneath the plate, as shown in Fig. 3, in position to be pressed back by the intro duction of a key, 15, which may consist of a 5 simple steel rod to be inserted from below through an opening or groove, 16, in the back of the hasp-plate. The key 15 may be grooved or slotted longitudinally for engagement with the ward in the groove 16 of the hasp-platein to:

such a manner that the groove 16 will admit only the special key intended for opening the look. A hole, 17, in the plate communicates with the groove 16, and receives the wire 18 of a lead seal, 19, which is shown in position in Figs. 1 and 3. The bolt 9 and the sealing-lug 8, through which it passes, are also provided with registering apertures 20 21, through which the wire 18 is threaded.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The improved seal-lock, consisting of a locking-shackle, a fastening-plate provided with securing-lugs upon its upper face, and a lock-bolt having ahorizontal slot in its head, and connected to the said fastening-plate by means of a pivoted link adapted to move in the slot of the lock-bolt, and to drop with the said bolt when it falls to a locking position.

2. In combination with a locking-shackle, a fastening-plate provided with lugs, and a locking-bolt, as described, the said plate being also formed with a groove on its under side, and provided with a spriiigcatcli, having a pin adapted to enter the shackle and the lockingeases? bolt, thereby automatically securing them when placed in looking position.

3. In combination with the locking-shackle 1, the fastening-plate 2, having lugs 5 and S, locking-bolt 9, having opening 14, and link 11, the said plate 2 being provided with a groove, 16, and hole 17, and the spring-catch I2 13, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with the fastening-plate 2, having a hole, 17, groove 16, spring-catch 12 13, and bolt 9, having opening 14, as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a seal-lock, a fastening-plate formed with a key-groove in its under side, the said groove having a connecting opening with the face of the plate, both groove and opening being adapted to receive a sealing-wire, whereby the key is prevented from entering the groove before breaking the wire, as set forth.

HENRY V. EARL.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. 1 SINTON, WM. H. SHELLEY. 

